Do you own a historic home or building? The Wisconsin Historical Society has lots of information on how to preserve your historic building and did you know if your building is listed in the National Register or State Register of Historic Places that you can get a 25% tax credit for rehabilitation? The Wisconsin Historical society has a wealth of information on this and many other subjects, check them out. https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS15265

Yep, we grew them Big up here in Waupun

In addition to a previous post, Alfred Stanley Johnson Jr. (1863-1932) was quite a local talent. Working from his studio at 11 N. Madison he merged several photographs to create 'tall-tale' scenes. The following image (from 1911), in its original form, is one of the more elaborate in the collection. The base photo features the box cars, platform and people with carts. The melon images were meticulously cut out and placed under items such as the pole and platform (somewhat visible in image) or over top of areas such as the box cars and carts. Other images in the collection feature other vegetables, fruits, animals and fish expertly placed in scenes of daily life. Quite remarkable 'Photoshop' over 100 years ago.

Back on June 10, 1977 the Waupun State Prison hosted a day long bike show and events for its inmates with the help of outside bikers. Organized by Activities Director George Smullen and supported by Warden Thomas Israel, the event was a big hit with all involved. A little reprieve from the life of incarceration for the insiders and perhaps what to avoid for the attendees. Other events were held in subsequent years. (from the Waupun Historical Society archives.)

Just a reminder that both the Carnegie Museum and the Laird Museum will be open this Sunday from 1:30 till 4:00. Also on Sunday , the popcorn wagon will be up and running in front of the Carnegie Museum. The train room will also be open and running at the Laird this Sunday

Once upon a time, the marsh was a lake, and steam boats ran on it. This was way before our time, actually back before we were at state. Some people in Horicon decided to dam up the Rock river, so that they could use the power of the water to run a saw mill. That was in 1845 but 1847 the water had reached such levels , that instead of a marsh , it was now a lake. This aided to transportation which at this time was mainly foot and horse and wagon, or boat where there was sufficient deep of water. This lake covered about 40 square miles from Horicon up to Chester. Chester started to grow, becoming the main port on the north end of the lake, and at that time ,people thought it might become bigger than Waupun. The Rock River Valley Railroad was built to help fill the gap between Fond du Lac and Chester, bringing logs from the North down to Lake Horicon to be floated down to the mill in Horicon. Another Railroad was built , the Milwaukee and Horicon, to take the finished lumber down to the city. The lake also provided great fishing and sportman's club popped up around the area to take advantage of the fishing there. Not all went well for the lake .A couple of boating accidents occurred with several people dying,but the major problem for the lake came when the dam broke through. The rushing water from the dam, damaged farms and property down stream and caused an uproar among those affected. While the complaint did come before the officials desk., the dam was rebuilt before any thing could be done at that time. It was not forgotten though and in 1867 the legislature passed a bill calling for the removal of the dam. In 1868 tearing down the dam began, and over several years the water receded till it was once again a marsh. (right: Title from a story in the Milwaukee Journal 1931 top right: hunting lodge on the Lake Middle right: Native Americans by the lake Bottom right: steam ship on the Lake)

We've all become familiar with the term ”Photo-shopped” meaning a picture that has been altered, modified , or changed in some way. We connect this with computers and software. The practice goes back much farther then that, back before computers, TV, radio, if fact back to the invention of Photography and the camera. One of the very popular forms were the Tall-tale post cards. This were started back in the turn of the century (1900 or shortly there after) the first master of this was William H. Martin (1865-1940) who started producing tall-tale post cards in 1908. They became very popular. In the same year Alfred Stanley Johnson Jr. (1863-1932) started his studio in Waupun. He learned Photography from his father who was an English photographer. the Johnson studio was located at 11-17 North Madison St. and was one of the longest running photography studios in Waupun.He is credited with taking manipulated photography farther in creativity, going from simpler static earlier works, to more involved complex action photos later on. His work in tall-tale post cards goes from Oct. 1909 when the first were published to some time around 1923 when the last (so far) dated was found. The Waupun Historical Society is presently working on adding to the information we have on him and his collection of photos to be added to our exhibit on local artists.(left: Alfred Stanley Johnson Jr. Top right: Cat fish caught in Beaver pond 1909, Middle right: Cutting corn 1913, Bottom right: we stopped here 1915)

Governor Nelson Dewey selected Waupun for the construction of the Wisconsin state prison, on July 4 1851. A temporary structure was completed in 1851 which could house 40 prisoners. The first permanent structure was completed in 1854 and is still in use today. Additions were added in 1855, 1906, 1913, 1940, and 1998.The prison is on the National Register of Historic Places, added in1992. More information and artifacts can be seen at our James C. Laird Museum on McKinley street in Waupun . We are open the first and third Sundays of the month from 1:30 till 4:00 . There is also the Carnegie Museum on South Madison Street, north of the prison, open at the same time. Stop in and see what the museums have to offer, We're always looking for new members, join the team and help us explore the past and preserve it for the future.( As a side note, the world record holder for eating over 26,000 Big Macs worked as a security guard here, for 25 years. He retired in 2011.) (top: drawing of prison 1895; bottom: photo by H.H. Bennett 1893)